Rossland downtown to grow more statuesque

A taste of Sculpturewalk—made popular in the city of Castlegar over the last few years—will be coming to Rossland next year.

Approval has been given for space to be assigned for the installation of a rotating sculpture in downtown Rossland as part of regional sculpture walk.

There will be a new sculpture space created outside the old Pro Hardware, with the Rossland Council for Arts and Culture (RCAC) raising the money for the cost.

The city will donate in-kind work to get the base set up, to a maximum of $1,000 for site preparation.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said councilor Kathy Moore.

RCAC would raise the funds needed for the annual lease and installation. An annual lease for a sculpture from Castlegar Sculpturewalk ranges from between $1,500 to $2,300.

“Our understanding is that the cost of the lease includes transportation of the sculpture to the new site and assistance with installation,” said RCAC president Renate Fleming in a letter to council.

There has been a regional arts discussion to coordinate a West Kootenay sculpture walk for some time. The regional initiative would build on the success of Castlegar’s Sculpturewalk and rotate Sculpturewalk sculptures through various communities in the West Kootenay.

“It is hoped that this initiative could serve as the foundation for a regional cultural tourism plan,” said Fleming.

RCAC had been talking to Joy Barrett, coordinator of Castlegar’s Sculpturewalk, regarding Rossland’s participation in the initiative.

The concept is that the Castlegar Sculpturewalk will lease its sculptures to different communities in the region on an annual basis and would provide marketing and promotion of the regional Sculpturewalk.

The first sculpture would be placed in April 2014 and would remain in place for one year. RCAC will return to council in early 2014 for approval of the selected sculpture.

Fleming said the initiative was a unique opportunity to participate in a regional arts initiative that would increase Rossland’s profile as an arts and culture community and benefit the business community by attracting summers tourists.

Fleming said the request for a rotating sculpture was timely as it will also tie in with the city’s approval of the permanent sculpture, Bears Playing, to be installed in 2014, and the newly erected Olaus Jeldness statue.

Rossland also is host to another public art piece, The Storytellers, in front of the library; an RCAC project from 2008.

The communities of Nelson, Kaslo and possibly Trail will also be participating in the regional sculpture walk.